Knot-tying device

ABSTRACT

A knot-tying device, providing a mandrel mounted on a support member, the mandrel being formed with a surface-located slot and an aperture extending parallel to the slot, the mandrel being designed to aid in tying a knot in a cord by securing together an intermediate portion and an end portion of such cord.

United States Patent Charles E. Newlin 381 1-39th Avenue, Oakland, Calif. 94619 [21] Appl. No. 69,633

[22] Filed Sept. 4, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [7 21 Inventor [54] KNOT-TYING DEVICE 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 289/17 [51] Int.Cl D03j 3/00 [50] Field of Search 289/17 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,697,624 12/1954 Thomas et a1. 289/ 17 2,758,858 8/1956 Smith 289/17 2,926,036 2/1960 Wimberley 289/ 17 Primary Examiner--Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney-Bruce & McCoy ABSTRACT: A knot-tying device, providing a mandrel mounted on a support member, the mandrel being formed with a surface-located slot and an aperture extending parallel to the slot, the mandrel being designed to aid in tying a knot in a cord by securing together an intermediate portion and an end portion of such cord.

PATENTEnuaczalszr 1630.555

J INVENTOR. CHARLES E. NEWLIN KNOT-TYING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the tying of knots in cords, and more particularly to a device for aiding the tying of a knot in a cord.

It has been conventional, in the prior art, to form knots in cords, or lines, such as, e.g., for the purpose of maintaining a noose in a cord to be utilized for supporting a fish hook. Such knots have, in most instances, been formed manually. The manual formation of such knots has, however, presented numerous disadvantages. As one such disadvantage, such manual knot formation has been inordinately time-consuming. As a further disadvantage, such manual knot formation has been difficult. As a still further disadvantage, such manual knot formation has often resulted in the production of a knot which is not sufficiently secure because of the recent use of monofilament synthetic lines.

Although devices for aiding the tying of knots have been known in the prior art, such devices have not served to overcome the existent problems with respect to the formation of a knot in a cord, for the purpose of maintaining a noose therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device for aiding the tying of a knot in a cord. The device of the invention is constructed of a support member, and a mandrel of elongate form mounted on the support member, the mandrel providing a peripherally extending curved surface; and being formed both with an elongate slot at the curved surface, and with an elongate aperture. The slot and the aperture are designed to receive an intermediate portion of a cord, and an end portion of such cord, respectively, the curved surface being designed to support a plurality of turns of the cord, to be utilized in arranging a knot which secures the end portion of the cord to the intermediate portion of the cord.

The employment of the device of'the invention serves to overcome the above-discussed disadvantages existing in the prior art relating to the formation of knots. The use of the device of the invention, thus, serves to minimize the time required for the formation of a knot in a cord for the purpose of maintaining a noose in such cord. In addition, the utilization of the device of the invention serves to facilitate the formation of such a knot. Furthermore, the device of the invention, in its use, serves to assure the production of such a knot as will be sufficiently secure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a knot-tying device, constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the knot-tying device of the invention, as viewed along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the knot-tying device of the invention, as viewed along the lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the lines S5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective, illustrating the use of the knot-tying device of FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I, there is shown a knot-tying device 10, constructed in accordance with the invention. The device 10 is formed of a support member, or handle 12; and a mandrel 14. The handle 12 is of elongate form, and provides a concave bottom surface 16 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3). The top surface I8 of the handle 12 is flat.

Each of the opposite side surfaces 20, 22 has a slight degree of curvature.

The handle 12 is formed, at one end thereof, with a tapered shoulder portion 24. Adjacent the shoulder portion 24, the top surface 18 of the handle 12 is formed with a plurality of transversely extending ridges, or teeth 26.

Integral with the handle 12, and projecting from the shoulder 24, is a mandrel 28. The mandrel 28 is of elongate form, and extends angularly with respect to the handle 12. The mandrel 28 has the shape of a truncated cone. The mandrel 28, thus, provides a peripherally extending curved surface 30 (see also FIG. 4). The comparatively large outer end surface 32 of the mandrel 28 is flat; and extends obliquely with respect to the top surface 18 of the handle 12.

The mandrel 28 is provided with a slot 34, which is formed in the surface 30. The slot 34, at its inner end 36, communicates with the concave surface 16 of the handle 12. The slot 34 is of elongate form, extending for the full length of the mandrel 28, and terminating at the surface 32, as seen at 38. The slot 34 is of generally T-shaped cross section.

Formed in the mandrel 28 is a circular aperture 40. The aperture 40 at one end 42 thereof, opens at the surface 18 of the handle 12. The aperture 40, at the opposite end 44 thereof, is of enlarged diameter, and opens at the outer end surface 32 of the mandrel 28. The aperture 40, thus, extends for the full length of the mandrel 28, and extends generally parallel to the slot 34.

The handle 12, at the end thereof opposite the shoulder 24, is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 46 (see also FIG. 5). Mounted in the slot 46 is a blade 48, which provides a cutting edge 50. The end surface of the handle 12, adjacent the slot 46, is concave as seen at 52.

The top surface 20 of the handle 12 may, if desired, be convex.

The device 10 is constructed of a rigid material having a low coefficient of friction, such as, e.g., nylon. Alternatively, another type of rigid material may be employed; and the mandrel 28 coated with a suitable material having a low coefficient of friction, such as, e.g., Teflon.

The manner of use of the knot-tying device 10 of the invention will be described with particular reference to FIG. 6, and with respect to the formation of a knot in a cord a, to be employed for the support of a fish hook b. One end portion c of the cord a is initially drawn through the eye d of the fish hook b; and an adjacent portion of the cord 11 is then formed into a noose e. An intermediate portion f of the cord a, is then placed in the slot 34; and manually retained in the slot 34 by manual pressure exerted on an adjacent length of cord contacting the concave surface 16 of the handle 12. The end portion c of the cord is then passed around the mandrel l4, and so as to form a plurality of cord turns. As a consequence of the shape of the mandrel 14, such cord turns will be positioned immediately adjacent the shoulder 24. At the same time, the noose e will be retained, with the intermediate cord portion f supported in the slot 34.

After a plurality of cord turns have been formed, the remainder of the end portion f of the cord 11 is turned about the noose e, adjacent the intermediate portion f, and manually inserted into the aperture 40, through the enlarged outer end 44 thereof. The outermost end of such cord remainder is then drawn from the aperture 40, through the inner end 42 thereof; and manually retained in contact with the teeth 26 at the surface 18 of the handle I2.

The turns formed in the cord a may then be manually removed from the mandrel 14, along with the remainder of the end portionf. The knot formed by the cord turns may then be manually tightened, so as to secure the noose e in place. Any excess cord may then be removed by use of the cutting edge 50 of the blade 48.

The oblique positioning of the outer end surface 32 of the mandrel 28 with respect to the top surface 18 of the handle 12, serves to facilitate a viewing of the surface 32, during the use of the device 10.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A knot-tying device, comprising a support member, and

an elongate mandrel mounted on said support member and providing a peripherally extending curved surface, said mandrel being formed with an elongate slot at said curved surface, and an elongate aperture, said slot and said aperture being adapted to receive an intermediate portion of a cord, and an end portion of said cord, respectively, said curved surface being adapted to support a plurality of turns of said cord, to be utilized in arranging a knot which secures said end portion of said cord to said intermediate portion of said cord.

2. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member and said mandrel are integral.

3. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim I, in which said support member is formed as a handle for said mandrel.

4. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is of elongate form, said mandrel being mounted on an end portion of said support member.

5. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 4, in which said mandrel extends angularly with respect to said end portion of said support member.

6. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is provided with a concave surface portion, one end of said slot being in communication with said concave surface portion.

7. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is provided with a surface portion formed with teeth, said teeth being adapted to be engaged by said cord end portion when passed through said aperture.

8. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said mandrel is in the shape of a truncated cone.

9. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said slot extends for the full length of said mandrel.

10. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said slot is of T-shaped cross section.

11. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture extends parallel to said slot.

12. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture extends for the full length of said mandrel.

13. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture is provided with an enlarged opening.

14. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is formed as an elongate handle for said mandrel, said support member being provided with a concave surface portion communicating with one end of said slot, said support member being further provided with a surface portion formed with teeth engageable by said cord end portion when passed through said aperture, said mandrel being integrally secured to, and extending angularly from, an end portion of said support member, said slot being of T- shaped cross section and extending for the full length of said mandrel, said aperture extending parallel to said slot and for the full length of said mandrel, said aperture being provided with an enlarged opening. 

1. A knot-tying device, comprising a support member, and an elongate mandrel mounted on said support member and providing a peripherally extending curved surface, said mandrel being formed with an elongate slot at said curved surface, and an elongate aperture, said slot and said aperture being adapted to receive an intermediate portion of a cord, and an end portion of said cord, respectively, said curved surface being adapted to support a plurality of turns of said cord, to be utilized in arranging a knot which secures said end portion of said cord to said intermediate portion of said cord.
 2. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member and said mandrel are integral.
 3. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is formed as a handle for said mandrel.
 4. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is of elongate form, said mandrel being mounted on an end portion of said support member.
 5. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 4, in which said mandrel extends angularly with respect to said end portion of said support member.
 6. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is provided with a concave surface portion, one end of said slot being in communication with said concave surface portion.
 7. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is provided with a surface portion formed with teeth, said teeth being adapted to be engaged by said cord end portion when passed through said aperture.
 8. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said mandrel is in the shape of a truncated cone.
 9. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said slot extends for the full length of said mandrel.
 10. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said slot is of T-shaped cross section.
 11. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture extends parallel to said slot.
 12. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture extends for the full length of said mandrel.
 13. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said aperture is provided with an enlarged opening.
 14. A knot-tying device in accordance with claim 1, in which said support member is formed as an elongate handle for said mandrel, said support member being provided with a concave surface portion communicating with one end of said slot, said support member being further provided with a surface portion formed with teeth engageable by said cord end portion when passed through said aperture, said mandrel being integrally secured to, and extending angularly from, an end portion of said support member, said slot being of T-shaped cross section and extending for the full length of said mandrel, said aperture extending parallel to said slot and for the full length of said mandrel, said aperture being provided with an enlarged opening. 